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Typically individuals begin podcasts out of curiosity, the necessity to flex a inventive muscle, or the drive to inform their story. However what occurs after that preliminary experiment will be highly effective: podcasting can create transformative enterprise progress and constant revenue.
When individuals check with podcasts as a ‘interest’, they’re lacking a lot about what they will do for the entrepreneur, inventive, side-hustler, storyteller, and ideator. In reality, podcasts generated over $2 billion in advert income in 2023 alone.
The ability of podcasting is definitely not misplaced on me. What began with a nudge and a microphone from my older brother turned an outlet for me throughout a really lonely season of entrepreneurship. It has additionally changed into the #1 factor I’m recognized for, The Purpose Digger Podcast.
I pressed that ‘file’ button from the entrance seat of my automobile in my storage (so nobody may hear the canine barking in the home) and printed my first few episodes. I felt like I used to be throwing a foolish thought into the ether and hoping no less than one particular person would hearken to it. I didn’t even think about the methods it could assist develop and help my enterprise.
110+ million downloads over 800+ episodes later, I’ve witnessed simply what constant podcasting can actually do.
Let’s dive into the journey of what it appears wish to go from that preliminary spark of curiosity and the publishing of your first few episodes to constructing a 7-figure enterprise with podcasting.
A fast spoiler right here: This received’t require burnout. It additionally doesn’t imply you’ll need to shift who you’re, what you do, or change into a completely totally different human to see success.
Podcasting for Enterprise Development: How I Constructed a 7-Determine Enterprise Whereas Staying True to Myself
The Starting of the Podcast Journey
Although I used to be within the thick of operating my pictures enterprise whereas getting my digital advertising and marketing enterprise off the bottom, I used to be apprehensive about beginning a podcast. I joked about how nobody wished to listen to my voice or study from me!
However I couldn’t shake my curiosity. Then my brother gave me his previous microphone and I felt like all my excuses had lastly run out. What did I’ve to lose? So, I began scared.
I wouldn’t think about myself tech-savvy, so in these first few episodes, I ditched the professional microphone and used my iPhone headphones and my dependable Midwest cellphone voice, following a light-weight define I’d jotted down for myself with about six totally different rewrites. I used to be frightened I might run out of issues to say.
Even after I completed recording, I couldn’t carry myself to hearken to it. I promised myself I might attempt. I didn’t need myself to get in the best way of that.
From there, I began recording in my coat closet (a pleasant step up from the automobile), studying my very own move and luxury behind the microphone. I challenged myself to begin asking for viewers questions on my Instagram and alluring them to come back subscribe to the present with rising confidence.
I sought out podcast visitors and stayed in step with my posting schedule. Finally, I discovered a rhythm, constructing my present into what Purpose Digger is right this moment.
It may be laborious to know the place you begin with your individual podcast. I felt just a little misplaced in all the main points once I first began too. I burdened about nailing the proper intro and sign-off for longer than I’d wish to admit.
As an alternative of copying anybody else’s actual method, what’s going to assist your podcast be one thing you want doing for 100 or 1000 episodes is to verify it aligns with you. And keep in mind, you may change all the pieces as you study and develop. You’ll evolve (I positive did), so don’t stress your self to get it proper on episode one.
Staying Genuine in a Sea of Noise
One factor that has stayed pretty unchanged from the start for me was who I wished to be as a podcaster. I used to be decided to be me. I didn’t need fluff or a present that felt like a time-waster. And I wished my listeners to at all times know they have been getting a real reflection of my persona and values. I’ve by no means shied away from the actual speak.
I’ve liked on-line studying for a very long time, so I envisioned each episode of my podcast as a possibility for my listeners to study. Charting out my episode outlines was lots like planning a free masterclass each week. I wished the consultants on my present to shine and be seen for who they are surely, too.
Finally, I noticed I wished to share my very own ideas and insights, so I launched solo exhibits. I’ve expanded from sharing primarily about digital advertising and marketing and enterprise to opening up about different features of my life, like seasons of navigating burnout, pivoting the enterprise, motherhood, and loss.
I wished to have a greater reference to my listeners (since a podcast can really feel one-sided nearly at all times.) So, I launched a Fb group for my podcast listeners referred to as Purpose Digger Insiders. That group is sort of 65,000 listeners robust.
My group comes collectively to not solely speak about what they’re studying by way of the podcast, however they’re additionally an enormous useful resource for one another. By means of years of suggestions and the same old web playground of mates and critics, I realized the right way to discover a stability between listening to what my viewers wished extra of and staying true to my voice and imaginative and prescient.
Constructing a Podcasting Movement for Sustainable Enterprise Success
As a busy entrepreneur, I knew I didn’t need podcasting to change into a tangled, logistical mess. I craved a inventive outlet, not a dreaded dedication each week.
Making a course of that match into the move of my week and labored nicely with my power and schedule turned a fast precedence. I knew that juggling recording, scheduling visitors, publishing episodes, social posting, and all the pieces else may rapidly burn me out.
Whereas my podcast began with simply me, I ultimately added one staff member. This helped me preserve the system I constructed operating, evolving, and feeling like a enjoyable problem for us by way of the seasons.
It’s solely ever been simply two individuals operating it: me and my podcast producer who’s actually managing all the present. It’s by no means been an enormous crew or an advanced manufacturing. I get to point out up, speak right into a mic, meet superb individuals, and we get to share these episodes with the world. That was and nonetheless is the purpose and that’s why I created a easy system for us to comply with.
Podcasting for Enterprise Development and Evolution
Whereas my core imaginative and prescient for Purpose Digger hasn’t modified over time, nearly all the pieces else has. From our posting frequency to the form of individuals I search out as present visitors to our branding, intro and outro, and the subjects we cowl!
Relatively than huge, sweeping modifications, we adapt in small methods as we go. I don’t wish to get caught in a rut for therefore lengthy that we worry change, so as a substitute, we make it a behavior to verify in and make fixed little tweaks to maintain ourselves agile. On high of that, the small modifications preserve the work we’re doing feeling recent and thrilling!
Keep open to suggestions, whether or not that’s internally along with your staff, out of your listenership, and even your intestine telling you one thing isn’t fairly proper. The way in which your present must evolve may not at all times be apparent or come from the most recent podcasting stats. Your present would possibly want to alter in methods which might be wholly distinctive to you. Perhaps you’ll be the primary particular person ever to do what you do in your podcast!
That’s thrilling, however you received’t study what that’s in case you don’t hear.
And in that course of, don’t be afraid to attempt that new factor. Podcasting is and can at all times be primarily experimental. Attempting new issues is central to the form of artwork kind that podcasting is. If that new factor does not work, I might nonetheless depend that as a hit for attempting, studying, and pivoting.
Avoiding Burnout and Sustaining Stability
A lot of the 800+ episodes of Purpose Digger have been recorded in my messy closet. I didn’t hit episode 100 and spend money on a studio or stress myself to alter simply because ‘that’s what success appears like.’ I felt the success of my podcast by way of the information and influence on my listeners.
I didn’t wish to waste power attempting to make my present look profitable once I’d quite funnel it into the episodes and conversations themselves. My power is a precious useful resource and I wish to spend it the place it actually counts.
Whereas I like my podcast, it’s nonetheless only one aspect of my enterprise as an entire, so it really can not take up all of my time. That’s why making a system is so necessary.
I set boundaries round how and once I would file my present. I prioritized relaxation whereas carving out targeted time to batch-record our episodes. I take a look at one month at a time and lean into what feels thrilling for me in that month in order that our content material feels recent, alive, and related to the time the episodes are being aired.
Defending my power means I get to take a seat down and be in the proper headspace each single time I hit the ‘file’ button. I really feel current for my present visitors and our conversations get to be real quite than rushed or jumbled. I’m able to be mentally on monitor for my solo exhibits, which retains me engaged. The extra engaged I will be, the extra assured I really feel about each episode that goes dwell.
My ardour for podcasting will be protected and fostered by good boundaries round my time and power. I get to point out up, pour out, and stroll away figuring out we’re creating one thing we’re pleased with each time.
We’re not burdened or pressured by attempting to do all of the issues, which is definitely what has allowed me to show my podcasting thought into a serious, profit-driving department of my enterprise. Boundaries are what make room for fulfillment.
Monetizing Your Podcast: Considering Past Sponsorships
It’s straightforward to imagine that sponsorships are the primary approach podcasts can revenue, particularly since as listeners, we’re used to listening to a barrage of adverts (relying on the podcast.)
Sponsors are necessary and efficient however don’t need to be the solely approach a podcast can monetize. I’ve examined and tried a number of dozen methods of bringing in earnings by way of the podcast, and a handful have risen to the highest as my trusted monetization methods.
You may leverage your podcast into a mess of profit-generating channels.
Discuss your individual enterprise presents (paid or free) to show your listeners into patrons, or no less than e mail subscribers you may promote to later.
You should utilize affiliate hyperlinks and codes to generate earnings by speaking about services you’ve examined and love.
You may launch a membership or Patreon group the place you share distinctive content material that your listeners and followers can’t get anyplace else.
In relation to monetizing, I like to recommend weaving two or extra of those strategies collectively in order that the trouble that goes into each episode has a multi-level payoff for you in the long term.
As you construct long-term consistency along with your present, you’re not simply maintaining your listeners completely satisfied, however you’re establishing credibility, too. When different alternatives come knocking, you’ll have your podcast to assist present what you’re actually about.
Your experience can actually converse for itself once you’ve been leveraging it for lots of of episodes over a number of years.
Podcast Success Occurs One Episode at a Time
Each time I sit down at my desk on a podcast recording day, I smile interested by how I nearly didn’t begin this present. I snigger as a result of I can’t consider I get to do this as a job. I’m relieved that this not solely turned out to be a inventive outlet for therefore a few years however that it additionally turned a chart-topping present.
It wouldn’t have occurred if I didn’t publish episode 1. After which 2. After which 3. And it could’ve fizzled out lengthy earlier than I noticed success if I hadn’t chosen to remain true to myself and my imaginative and prescient the entire approach by way of!
Whereas the street could look lengthy, I can say that each one these years of podcasting felt far too fast. I usually really feel like I blink and we’re one other 100 episodes alongside, celebrating yet one more milestone.
In case you’re on the beginning line (or merely within the curious part) of your individual podcast, keep in mind to maintain celebrating your individual milestones. That may imply shopping for your first microphone, ending your first episode, getting your first assessment, or having your first podcast visitor.
Constructing your present to a 7-figure success or no matter ‘success’ authentically appears like for you takes time. It takes doing it scared typically. It takes dedication to the consistency. It takes defending your boundaries, time, and power so as to preserve shifting ahead.
It means being intentional with who you’re employed with, how you intend your ‘system’ for podcasting, and the way you evolve. And it takes getting sensible with the way you layer your monetization in order that your podcast can gas your online business … or change into your online business.
Can I assist you flip your podcasting curiosity or present present into podcast success (with your individual definition of success main the best way?)
Take a look at my free podcasting masterclass, Podcasting 101: How you can Begin, File, and Revenue from Your Present. On this free masterclass, I am going to present you the right way to begin, develop, and monetize your present — no fancy tech or huge viewers wanted — so you may flip your ardour into a robust platform!
